Zack Armed and Dangerous

Zack Armed and Dangerous by Cheyenne McCray

Publisher: Cheyenne McCray LLC

July 2015

ISBN: 978-1-939778-65-9

Pages: 234

Contemporary Romantic Suspense

Douglas, Arizona

Ten years ago Sky MacKenna had her heart broken by Zack Hunter who was a bad boy.  Since then Sky hasn’t been able to find a man that sets her on fire the way he did.  Suddenly he comes back into her life, sexier, bigger and badder than ever.

Zack Hunter works for Immigration and Customs Enforcement as an agent.  What he never expected was to be lead back to his small hometown by that job. He also never expected to see Sky again. The stupidest thing he ever did was leaving her behind. This time he is determined to keep her. Zack makes his intention very clear when he sets eyes on Sky again.

Zack is investigating a case that Sky ends up entangled in which makes him take the threat personally. Their passion burns hotter than even as the danger mounts.

This is a great romantic suspense that provides plenty of suspects and will keep the reader guessing just who is behind what is going on. It is easy to get sucked into the story as the plot is well written and moves along at a fast pace.  While the story starts out in the present the history between Sky and Zack are explained in such a way that the story keeps flowing very smoothly and the reader never gets lost in what is happening.  The suspense doesn’t stop until the very end of the story and readers will hate that the story is done. With this story it is a good idea to keep a glass of ice cold water nearby.

I give this one 5 red roses

LRH

Taken by Passion

Taken by Passion by Jaymie Holland

Publisher: Cheyenne McCray LLC

February 2015

ISBN: 978-1-939778-69-7

Pages: 217

Contemporary Fantasy Paranormal Romance

Alice O’Brien has been cheated on yet again and no longer believes she’ll find a Prince Charming. She decides she is just going to enjoy men and not risk her heart again.

Suddenly she leaves her familiar home in San Francisco when she literally falls down a rabbit hole. She lands in a world that is both strange and beautiful. She also meets shapeshifting brothers, that are all fierce and irresistible. Jarronn, though is that and also powerful and dominant.

Jarronn has deliberately lured Alice to his realm because of the draw of a card foretelling his kingdom’s future. He hopes by doing so he will avert a danger that is threatening his people. His intention to save his kingdom is with his and Alice’s bond of passion.  Nothing will stop him from making Alice his Queen of Hearts.

This takes Alice in Wonderland and turns it on it head and inside out.  It also makes for a book that is very hard to put down once readers start it. The world building is fun and full of wonder that makes for an amazing read.  The characters are relatable and move the story along very well. Watching Alice start out in one place and ending up in another makes for an intriguing story. Readers will want to read the other books in the series just to see how everything turns out. This is also one book that having a glass of ice water nearby would be a very good idea.

I give this one 5 red roses

LRH

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

Publisher: Quirk

June 2011

ISBN: 978-1-59474-476-1

Pages: 351

Contemporary and Historical Time-Travel Paranormal YA

Florida & Wales, England

Jacob is a sixteen-year-old that is set on a journey when a horrific family tragedy strikes.  He goes to a remote island off the coast of Wales and discovers a crumbling ruin that was once Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. The more Jacob explores the abandoned bedrooms and hallways the more he finds that Miss Peregrine’s children were much more than just peculiar.  They may have been quarantined on a deserted island as they might have been dangerous and where there for a very good reason.  Even more impossible is the fact that they might actually still be alive.

This is a story that takes photographs and remarkable story telling to a level that makes for a book that will have readers eating it up.  While there is a bit of a cliffhanger it still proves to be a story worth reading and will have readers eagerly getting the next book just to see what will happen next.  The book is very different and with the photographs in it and it transports readers to another place.  It will be interesting to see just where the journey of the books will take readers. While it is a young adult book adults will enjoy this one just as much as teens will.  This one will also end up on many keeper shelves.

I give this one 5 red roses

LRH

Rebel's Desire

Rebel’s Desire Book 4 of the Iron Portal series by Laurie London

Publisher: LB Books

July 2015

ISBN: 978-0-9882734-6-7

Pages: 127

Paranormal Romance

Toryn Flynn is a Iron Guild warrior that has been shattered by a betrayal and tormented by his past.  He also doesn’t trust anyone and the only thing he cares about is battling their enemies. His latest target is a mobster that finances deadly missions into Cascadia.

Keely Weber and her sister were kicked out of their family home by their puritanical father. They now run a bookstore and fortune-telling business in the underground district of New Seattle.  At least they did until a powerful man in control of the area kidnapped Keely’s sister to sell her into the Talent sex-trade.

Toryn has a beautiful woman literally fall into his arms and she holds the key to his success. Keely will take any risk even with a dangerously sexy man that pushes her buttons or anything else that is necessary to rescue her sister.

As Toryn and Keely go from the city’s gritty street underbelly to an island with a sexual-fantasy-theme their passions ignite.  Being surrounded by evil and time running out Toryn is going to have to decide if he will sacrifice the woman he is falling for or if he can dare to trust his heart again.

This is proving to be an amazing series that gets better with each book.  The action is intense and fills the book but it still focuses on the relationship between Toryn and Keely and makes for a book that moves at a remarkable pace.  While the books are connected they still tell a different story with each one which keeps the series from getting stale and will have readers wanting more from the series.  It is different from most paranormal stories which makes it in a class all its own.  The writing is very good and pulls readers in until the very last page.

I give this one 5 red roses

LRH

Tempted by Fire

Tempted by Fire Dragons of Bloodfire 1 by Erin Kellison

Publisher: Fire Flower Publishing, LLC

July 2015

Contemporary Paranormal Romance

It has been six hundred years and a dragon shifter that is powerful has been waiting all that time to avenge the loss of his family.  Unfortunately the beautiful mediator that was sent to prevent violence among the Bloodkin isn’t interested in being his key to discovering the murderer.  Actually she doesn’t want anything to do with dragons at all.

This is the start of a series that should prove to be very interesting.  The characters and world building are interesting and make for a very different kind of paranormal shape shifting series.  It will also have readers wanting more from this world and to find out who the next book will be about.  With all the action it makes for an engrossing read that is hard to put down which luckily is a relatively short read.  Readers who love shape shifters will really enjoy this one.

I give this one 4-1/2 red roses

LRH

Fifth Grave Past the Light

Fifth Grave Past the Light by Darynda Jones

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press

July 2013

ISBN: 978-1-250-01440-5

Pages: 339

Contemporary, Paranormal Romance

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Charley Davidson isn’t a run-of-the-mill grim reaper.  She leans more towards paranormal private eye/grim reaper extraordinaire.  Unfortunately she gets sidetracked when Reyes Farrow moves in next door especially with him being the sexy, sultry son of Satan. If that wasn’t enough things get even more complicated when he is her main suspect in an arson case.  Charley is determined to stay away from him until she finds out the truth.  At least that was her plan until dead women start showing up in her apartment one after the other. Each one confused, lost and terrified beyond reason. Soon Charley has no choice but to ask Reyes for help when it becomes apparent that the serial killer’s next target is her sister, Gemma. Reyes may be an arsonist but he is also the only man that can protect Gemma no matter what is headed her way.  There is a price to pay for that protection.  Reyes wants one thing, Charley. Body and soul. That is price Charley is willing to pay to keep her sister safe.

This is a series that gets better and better with each book. Neither the laughs nor the action stop and it keeps the book moving along at a very fast pace.  This is one book that readers will find very hard to put down and just might finish in one sitting.  Charley is a very fun and interesting character that will have readers wishing they could know her in real life.  Everyone could use a Charley in their life.  The story will also have readers wanting to read the next book just to see what happens next to Charley as wherever Charley is trouble is sure to follow.

I give this one 5 red roses

LRH

Slow Burn

Slow Burn (Lawmen Book 3) by Cheyenne McCray

Publisher: Cheyenne McCray LLC

February 2015

Pages: 162

Contemporary Romantic Suspense

Bisbee and Phoenix, Arizona

Trace Davidson is an agent with Department of Homeland Security and he is determined to protect Christie Simpson.  Christie’s ex-husband has managed to order a hit on her from his jail cell.  Salvatore Reyes doesn’t intend to let Christie testify against him so he will do anything to keep her from the witness stand. Trace and Christie manage to find love in the midst of the danger they are in but to have that love they must first make it out alive.

This is proving to be a series that is very addictive.  The characters are well written and with all the action it makes for a story that seems to be a lot shorter than it actually is.  The reader never knows just what will happen next and it will keep them on the edge of their seats.  It will also have them hoping for more from this series and author.  The characters have a lot to overcome and yet they manage to do so as they have a love that is worth fighting for.  It makes for an amazing story.

I give this one 5 red roses

LRH

The Lair

The Lair A Sinner’s Grove Novel by A.B. Michaels

Publisher: Red Trumpet Press

June 2015

ISBN: 0991508947

Pages: 448

Contemporary Romantic Suspense

Verona, Italy

Daniela Dunn is an innkeeper that must travel from Northern California to Italy when her playboy father dies in a racing boat mishap. Going back to her childhood home, an estate called the Panther’s Lair makes her very reluctant, in fact she is petrified.  The mansion holds deeply buried secrets and terrifying memories. It is also a place with the price of honesty could be death and appearances are deceiving.

Detective Gabe de la Torre is her flirtatious friend that is tagging along unasked and he is also complicating matters. Daniela doesn’t need a babysitter but when she finds out he has a secret reason for following her to Italy it makes her even more upset.  Gabe proves he is much more than a friend when Dani is drawn into her family’s intrigues. He is a sworn protector that just might end up losing his life while protecting Dani. 

Gabe has family debts that are old that he needs to settle before he can start fresh with the woman that just might be The One.  Gabe soon realizes that they are now players in a treacherous game when the stakes are raised by a mysterious woman that reveals that Dani’s father may have been murdered. Gabe’s top priority is keeping Dani safe even as she tries to figure out just whom she can trust: herself, her family or Gabe.

This proves to be an amazing suspense story that takes the reader on a ride that doesn’t end until the very end of the book.  With several mysteries going on at once it makes for a read that is hard to put down as the reader tries to figure out just what is going on and who is behind what.  With each secret that is revealed it draws the reader in even more and makes for a story that is fun to try and figure out.  It is the second book in the series and while it can be read as a standalone the reader will understand things better by reading the first book before this one.  For those that like mysteries and/or romantic suspense this is definitely one to check out.

I give this one 5 red roses

LRH

Lay Me Down

Lay Me Down: Revelers Series 2 by Erin Kellison

Publisher: Fire Flower Publishing

May 2014

Pages: 137

Contemporary, Paranormal Romance

Maisie Lane is able to navigate sleeps vast dreamwaters and she makes easy money as a courier delivering packages from one dream to another.  She knows her employers are on the shadier side of the law but doesn’t worry about it. Her sister believes she is living just for the pleasure of the moment.  Maisie has a plan and every step she takes is part of it though there is some pleasure involved too.  Now she has crossed a dream that is so evil that her only choice is to run.

Steve Coll is a special agent that is in charge of recruiting Maisie for Chimera, an organization that polices shared dreams.  With her funny and carefree spirit he is at first taken with her and then he sees her tough and passionate soul and Steve is brought to his knees.  With Maisie Steve can’t resist breaking the rules because touching her is a forbidden ecstasy.  Darkness is gathering though getting prepared to strike and the only thing standing between it and the innocent is Maisie.  Steve won’t let her stand alone no matter what even if that means he will die before he leaves her side.

This one picks up shortly after the first book but can still be read as a standalone but will be enjoyed much more if readers read the first one first.  The characters are well written and intriguing and makes for a story that is hard to put down.  The world building is complex and makes for a read that is fun. It is full of action and the reader is never sure just what will happen next.  This is a paranormal book that is very different from other paranormal books and stands very well on its own. 

I give this one 4-1/2 red roses

LRH

Hardwired

Hardwired The Hacker Series: One by Meredith Wild

Publisher: Forever

April 2015

ISBN: 978-1-4555-6513-9

Pages: 267

Contemporary Romance

Boston

Erica Hathaway learned early on how to make it on her own and is determined to overcome her difficult past.  Now just days after her college graduation she is face-to-face with a panel of investors that will either make or break her fledgling start-up business.  She thought she was prepared until she finds herself going weak in the knees for an investor that is both arrogant and gorgeous and who seems determined to derail her presentation. 

Blake Landon is a billionaire that is also rumored to be a hacker.  He has made his fortune in software and is used to getting whatever he wants.  Since Erica first stepped into his boardroom he has wanted to possess her and is captivated by her drive and unassuming beauty.  Blake is determined to win Erica over by fighting for her trust and breaking down her defenses and if he needs to sacrifice a level of control that he has grown accustomed to he will.

Blake ends up uncovering a dark secret from Erica’s past and now not only is her trust threatened but also the life she has fought hard to create.

This is the start of a series that proves to be very interesting and hard to put down.  Seeing how the characters get past their hang ups to have a relationship together is very satisfying and will keep the reader turning the pages just to see what will happen next.  The plot while similar to other books still manages to be different and makes for a story that will have readers wanting to read the next book to see just what will happen next.  It does end in a cliffhanger but it still works well with the overall story line.  This is one book that is worth checking out. 

I give this one 4-1/2 red roses

LRH